Improvement in ore-separators



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. CAMPFIELD AND JOHN M. HORNBEOK, OF ELLENSBERG, OREGON.

IMPROVEMENTJN ORE-SEPARATORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 157,192, dated November 24, 1874; application filed July 3, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES H. CAMP- FIELD and JOHN M. HoRNBEoK, of Ellensberg, in the county of Curry and State of Oregon, have invented a new and Improved Machine for Separating Gold from GoldtSiand, of which the following is a specificaon: r

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents a vertical longitudinal section of our improved gold-sand separator, taken on the line 0 c, Fig. 2; and Fig. 2 is a top View of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts. I

The object of our invention is to furnish, for the purpose of separating the fine gold particles from gold-bearing sand, an improved machine by which a greater percentage of gold is produced than by the amalgamation or washing processes in use, which have met with poor success, as in the former case too much of the gold-dust escapes the action of the quicksilver, by being either too light and flaky or corroded at the surface, which destroys the affinity for the quicksilver.

In the washing or blanket process the full yield cannot be obtained, as the machines have to be worked at a gentle grade with but small friction, and do not produce the separation which may be obtained with greater friction at a steeper. grade.

The blanket furthermore yields to the in-' fluence of water, and loses the degree of resistance required for separating the heavier gold particles from lighter mineral sands.

Our invention relates to a method of attaching a covering of villous or fibrous fabric of hair to the bottom of an inclined frame; and consists in such a construction and arrangement of parts as will first be fully described, and then pointed out in the claim.

In the drawing A represents the outer frame of our separating-machine, which is placed on adjustable legs in such a manner that the inclination of the bottom is about forty-five degrees, more or less, according to the nature of the sand to be worked thereon.

A suitable apron or ducking, B, at the upper end of frame A, conducts the water and sand from the feed'box to the machine.

The inclined bottom is covered with a lining, 0, which is made of a fabric or cloth woven of hair or other villous or fibrous material, and carded in such a manner that a bristle-like surface is obtained, the bristles being dressed in suitable direction against the sand carried over the same. The lining O is applied in pieces, which are hooked by bent metal plates D into correspondingly-bent hook-shaped plates D attached to the bottom of frame A, for forming thereby the lateral fastening of the lining, and are sidewise fastened by longitudinal strips E keyed firmly onto the lining O by means of wedges F, and pivoted cams F at the sides of frame A. The intimate connection of the lining O is thus produced, so that the same resists uniformly along its full length the passage of the gold-bearing sand over its surface.

When the machine is set up and adjusted to the proper angle or grade, the friction produced by the bristling-surface of the lining is so great that it gives the water and sand a rolling motion, which carries the light,

flaky, and floating particles against and gradually into the fibrous projections of the lining, while the weight of the water, and the gravity of the gold, tend to carry the particles down to thebase of the bristles, which form so many little pockets for collecting and retaining the gold until removed by the miner.

The sand, havingiless gravity, and round shape, escapes with the water over the ends of the bristles.

The lining resists, on account of its impervious material, the softening influence of the water, without losing its rigidity or stiffness, so as to keep up a uniform action, and hold the particles of gold securely in the pockets where they first lodgepg The increased friction to which the sand is exposed, together with the difference in the specific gravity of the gold and sand, secure an increased percentage or yield over the method practiced heretofore.

Having thus described our invention, we wedged side strips firmly to the bottom, subclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters stantially in the manner and for the purpose Patent set forth.

The machine for separating gold particles CHARLES H. OAMPFIELD. from gold-bearing sand, constructed of in- JOHN M. HORNBEGK. olined supporting-frame A, having its bottom Witnesses: covered with a villous or fibrous lining, G, CALVIN MOORE,

fastened by interlocking hanging plates and O.W. LOCKE. 

